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Haley looks to future after second trip to U.S. swim trials

Sara Haley is 21 years old and has participated in two U.S. Olympic Swim Team Trials on top of other impressive accomplishments in the pool.
But she?s not done. Haley has her senior year at Louisiana State University ahead of her and has more goals she wants to accomplish. The two-time, Southeastern Conference bronze-medal winner in the 200-yard butterfly, Haley has her work cut out for her to repeat or even improve on her performance.
?With Texas A&M and Missouri joining the SEC that will make things more competitive,? Haley said. ?Camille Adams of Texas A&M made the Olympic team and another girl from Tennessee just missed it so things will be more competitive to earn a medal in the 200 fly in the SEC championships. Also, I have never scored at the NCAA championships and I?d like to do that. I?d also like to be an All-American.?
Haley recently competed in the 2012 U.S. Olympic Swim Team Trials in Omaha, Neb., swimming the 200- and 100-meter butterfly races. Haley finished the 200 butterfly in 86th position with a time of two minutes, 18.35 seconds. She also placed 152nd in the 100 butterfly with a time of 1:03.60.
?The trials went OK,? said Haley, a 2009 graduate of Oak Ridge High. ?There is so much excitement, so much hype and so many fans; it really is overwhelming. My first time in 2008 I was so nervous and this time, even though I knew what to expect, I was still nervous. There?s nothing you can do to practice swimming in front of 15,000 fans. It?s a once-in-a-lifetime thing and just a big adrenaline rush.
?Even though they weren?t my best times, I?ll take them,? Haley continued. ?I was happy to be there in the first place. I would have liked to make it to the semifinals, but I was a little off. I gave it my best so I can?t be upset.?
Though Haley didn?t make the Olympic team, two of her former teammates from the Sierra Marlins, Haley and Alyssa Anderson, did make it; Haley in the 10-kilometer open-water swim and Alyssa in the 800 free relay. Haley enjoyed sharing the moment with them. ?I always knew they would make it,? Haley said. ?They are both so driven. If Haley wants something she?s going to get it and with Haley making it, there was no way Alyssa wasn?t going to make it. She almost gave me a heart attack, but she pulled it out. It was awesome to see them make it.?
Haley, the school record holder in the 200-yard butterfly at LSU with a time of 1:56.67, isn?t ruling out another run at making the Olympic team in 2016.
?It?s a long way away and I haven?t made a decision on that yet,? Haley said. ?I will see how my senior year goes and then I plan on swimming at summer nationals.?